ANDREAS CAESALPINUS: AN ANSWER

To the Editor: —In The Journal of June 21 is a current comment headed, "Andreas Caesalpinus," in which the writer in view of the fact that the present year marks the four hundredth anniversary of the birth of Caesalpinus, detracts somewhat from the claim that Caesalpinus had any great part or merit in the discovery of the circulation of the blood. The conclusions seem to be that Harvey was the real discoverer of the circulation of the blood, and that to him all honors are due.

Andreas Caesalpinus, whom the writer characterizes as a "botanist and writer on medical topics," was recognized in his day as the most learned man of his age, and his contemporaries called him "papa philosophorum" (father of philosophers). Aside from his contribution to the discovery of the circulation of the blood, he published a book, "De Plantis," which gives the best classification of plants up